Bat



Jan. 10, 1961 c. v. CARLSON BAT Filed Sept. 2, 1958 INVENTOR. Cu/vro/v V OARLsoN BY A T TORNE Y8 United States Patent M BAT Clinton V. Carlson, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Cosom Industries, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Sept. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 758,237 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-72) My invention relates generally to improvements in bats and more specifically to improvements in relatively lightweight bats intended for use by children.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of an extremely light-weight bat which affords a maximum of safety.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a bat of the type immediately above described which is tubular in shape and which is formed from a relatively tough elastic plastic material.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described which includes a relatively long outer impact end portion and a relatively short inner grasping portion, said portions tapering toward each other from the open opposite ends of said bat to define a reduced area therebetween, and in which said reduced area is reinforced in a novel but highly effective manner whereby to produce an effective bat which will not collapse or buckle and thus tend to fold backward upon itself during impact.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which may be quickly and inexpensively produced.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my novel bat;

Fig. 2 is a view in axial section as seen from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding generally to Fig. 2 but illustrating the insertion of the reinforcing member thereinto;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view corresponding generally to Fig. 3 but illustrating the reinforcing member in its fully inserted position; and

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 but showing a slightly modified form of my invention.

Referring initially to the structure of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety a tubular open ended bat formed from relatively tough flexible somewhat elastic plastic material, such as polyethylene, and including a relatively long outer impact end portion 2 and a relatively short inner grasping end portion 3'. It will be noted that the end portions 2, 3 taper from their respective open ends 4, 5 toward each other, whereby to define, within the relatively short grasping end portion 3, a reduced area 6.

The bat immediately above described would, in use, tend to collapse or fold backwardly upon itself in the reduced area 6, during impact. To avoid this, I reinforce the reduced area 6 by inserting through the opening 5 in the inner grasping end portion 3, an elongated reinforcing member 7, preferably and as shown in the nature of a wooden dowel or plug, having a cross-sectionally circular shape conforming to that of the tubular bat 1.

As shown, the dowel 7 has an external diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the reduced area 6 and consequently when the reinforcing member or dowel 7 is driven into position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the elastic wall 8 of the bat 1, defining the reduced area 6, is expanded somewhat, as indicated by the numeral 9 in Fig. 3, thereby tending to restrict outward movement of the dowel 7 during swinging movements,

Patented Jan. 10, 1961 and impact thereof. To further discourage outward movements of the dowel 7 from the reduced area 6, I' provide a diametrically enlarged portion 10, immediately axially inwardly of the reduced area 6. This diametrically enlarged portion 10 can be formed in a number of Ways but preferably I form it by placing a liberal coating of liquid adhesive 11 on the peripheral surface of the reinforcing dowel 7. As shown in Fig. 3, as the dowel 7 with the liberal coating of adhesive 11 thereon is driven into position in the reduced area 6, wiping engagement of the wall 8 with the peripheral surface of the dowel 7 causes all surplus adhesive 11 to accumulate immediately axially inwardly of the reduced area 6, as indicated by the numeral 12 in Figs. 3 and 4. When this accumulation 12 of adhesive 11 is permitted to dry or set, it conforms in shape to the inwardly tapering Wall 8 and becomes a wedge.

In the modified structure of Fig. 5, the dowel or reinforcing member 7a is formed With a flaring or tapering axially inner end portion 13 which conforms to the tapering wall 8a of the bat 1a immediately axially inwardly of the reduced area 6a. It will be understood that the tapering dowel 7a is the full equivalent of the dowel 7 with the diametrically enlarged portion 10 thereon. The only advantage gained by the use of the dowel 7 is that it may be formed from conventional constant diameter doweling material; whereas the tapering dowel 7a must be separately formed.

In order to further reinforce the inner grasping end portion 3 and to positively preclude axially outward movements of the reinforcing members 7, 7a from their respective reduced areas 6, 6a, 1 wrap a strip of conventional adhesive tape spirally thereabout, in overlapping relationship, as indicated by the numeral 14. Such tape 14 obviously precludes further extension or expansion of the elastic wall 8. Preferably and as shown, my bat 1 is formed, adjacent the open inner end 5 thereof, with an endless radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extended reinforcing head 15.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be specifically understood that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A toy bat composed of relatively light and flexible plastic material having a relatively long hollow tubular outer impact end portion and a relatively short hollow grasping end portion, said outer and inner end portions being joined by an intermediate oppositely tapering portion providing an elongated transversely reduced area of progressively varying transverse dimensions, and said oppositely tapering portion being filled with a transversely solid and relatively rigid material throughout a substantial longitudinal extent thereof on opposite sides of ts area of minimum diameter to provide a relatively rigid intermediate section of reduced diameter between the light and flexible tubular hand grip and impact portions of said bat, whereby said bat will not collapse, buckle and fold backwardly upon itself in use.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said relatively rigid filling material comprises a wooden plug of slightly greater diameter than the minimum diameter of said transversely reduced area of said bat.

a References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,815 Burrows M Aug. 1, 1905 1,499,128 Schroyer June 24, 1924 1,611,858 Middlekauif Dec. 21, 1926 2,195,681 Robarge Apr. 2, 1940 

